Community impacts of hate crime Dr Jenny Paterson, Dr Mark Walters & Prof. Rupert Brown Sussex Hate Crime Project

Impacts of hate crime Hate crimes ‘hurt more’ than non-hate crimes Victims report more anger, depression, anxiety, PTSD They are also assumed to have significant impacts on entire communities - Sends messages of intolerance and hatred Spread fear Increases isolation and ostracism

The Sussex Hate Crime Project First quantitative investigation into the indirect impacts using two commonly targeted communities: Muslim and LGB&T 5 years: 2 large scale surveys, 12 experiments, 20+ interviews Potential community impacts Vulnerability Emotional reactions Behaviours Perceptions of the criminal justice system

Muslim survey (347) Based on experiences with physical assaults, there were 3 groups: No experience: 50% of participants had not been a victim of an Islamophobic assault and did not personally know of a victim. Indirect: 34% had not been a victim of an Islamophobic assault but did personally know of a victim. Direct & Indirect: 16% had been a victim of an Islamophobic assault and personally knew of another victim.

Threat & Emotions * * * * * * * Indicates a significant difference at p < .05

Behavioural intentions * * * * * * * Indicates a significant difference at p < .05

Recap Hate crimes have substantial impacts that spread throughout targeted communities. Simply knowing of another victim of a hate crime increases... Feelings of threat Anger Anxiety Avoidance Security-related behaviours Pro-action

Police attitudes * * * * * * * * * Indicates a significant difference at p < .05

CJS attitudes * * * * * * * Indicates a significant difference at p < .05

Summary In addition to the emotional and behavioural impacts, community impacts include: Negative perceptions of the police Negative perceptions of the CPS Support for hate crime legislation Desire for the government to do more

Implications Hate crimes DO have a considerable impact on other members of the community Highlights the need to report hate crimes (if not for you – for others) Informs practitioners of the community impacts and possible ways to harness the heightened emotional reactions Supports hate crime legislation Informs the police, CPS and government

Hot off the press..... Pro-action Anger Indirect Avoidance Threat Anxiety Direct Security Shame Schematic of community impacts - examines the associations throughout the sample (i.e., not just looking at three groups) Feeling anger and anxiety together is especially motivating Retaliation

Thank you Sussex Hate Crime Project Dr Jenny Paterson (j.paterson@sussex.ac.uk) Dr Mark Walters Professor Rupert Brown